Sports: India’s golden girl Sindhu wins silver, billion hearts

Carolina Marin overhauled a brave Pusarla Sindhu in the women’s singles final on Friday to win Spain’s first badminton title and crush India’s hopes of a maiden gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

Badminton silver medalist P.V. Sindhu of India poses with an Indian national flag

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The top seed, known as the “Rafa Nadal” of badminton in Spain for her tenacity and fierce left-handed game, closed out a 19-21 21-12 21-15 victory over the 21-year-old Sindhu who was majestic in her Olympic debut.

Letting out a blood-curdling shriek with every winning point, the Spaniard was jeered by spectators at the Riocentro in a nerve-shredding final as she pushed the rules of good sportsmanship with constant stalling tactics.

But the ruthless 23-year-old got the job done, charging away to grab six match points and sealing it on the second with an imperious smash down the line that her opponent did well to get a racquet to. Read More